Mani, a master’s student, returns to the reserve in northern Quebec where she grew up. Her painful past resurfaces. Resolved to reintegrate into the community, she gets involved in the debate around a referendum on allowing the free sale of alcohol on the reserve. Laura, a bootlegger, pockets the profits she makes there under the protection of the band council and her partner Raymond. The latter is still angry with Mani, whom he holds responsible for the death of his daughter in a fire. Opposing forces quickly divide the community into two sides who face each other to determine the best path to independence.
Bootlegger is a Canadian drama film, directed by Caroline Monnet and released in September 2021. The film centres on Mani, an indigenous graduate student in university who returns to her reserve in Quebec to advocate for a community referendum banning the sale of alcohol, placing her at odds with Laura, a bootlegger who profits from the sale of alcohol in the community.
